8 Million Things

 

Finishing off the final steps to building the Green Johanna.

        Starting strong with another eventful week! On Tuesday I got to build my third Green Johanna with the help of Christene (left) and Elmodine (middle), for another local Dreamcatcher; Moses had been doing amazing work helping to build and clear a safe space for me and the kids to work. Like all Dreamcatchers, he uses his talents to the fullest and puts them towards something good. 

You have to look closely to find Flonky the eel! Can you see him?

        Saturday I went to the Melkhoutfontein Museum. The museum is small but it holds tons of interesting artifacts and information. I had been meaning to go there because it's important to be knowledgeable of where you are and why you are where you are. It fulfills my mission for being here, and understanding what I'm creating in my theater production that I am creating with the kids! Connected to the Museum is a small pond that's connected to a river that connects to the sea. There is a family of eels that come every year after their great migration to chill out and eat chicken. Flonky is 15 years old and a proud shareholder of the museum's eel attraction. He was the most active of the eels that day, usually, eels aren't active until the night, and most needed lots of coaxing to come out of their hiding spots. Apparently chicken sometimes just isn't enough.

A piece of cake you will never eat.

        After the Museum and before our shopping excursion me and Christene stopped at Allegaartje Cafe and had cool drinks and cake to fill us up for the next hours. The cafe was so cute; fancy but in a rustic way.  the lights we covered and weaved through branches, and upon entering there was a beautiful giant window painting the place in natural light, and still, not a speck of dust would be found. The cafe also had a little gift shop with homemade goods from intrapreneurs in Stilbaai. I Love hanging out with Christene, I love going on excursions with friends and treating ourselves to fancy things. The chocolate cake was amazing by the way. 

Just chillin' at the tidal pool.

        Our last stop in Stilbaai was the tidal pools. The water was freezing but we were there at the perfect time of day just as high tide was coming in. I still can't get over how clear the water is, my favorite is the light aqua that appears just before the wave curls in on itself and melts back into the water. You have to be careful getting in and out of the water, I remember holding onto the metal bar like it was my lifeline (because it was). One slip and you'd have kids laughing at you for years to come. We spent most of our time sunbathing on the rocks and watching the waves crash into the rocks. We both loved laying there with our eyes closed just listening to the waves. 

 

                                             Set up...                                                Gala!
       Once I got home I went to a Gala at the town Hall, I had helped a little to set it up but Marie and her crew did most of the work! The Gala turned out beautiful, and again there were amazing singers and delicious food just like at the High Tea.  Any excuse to put on a dress and makeup is an amazing event. So many people came to the Gala, community events are a sure way of bringing the people of Melkhoutfontein together. The Gala was an event put on by the church that my host parents Marie and Leonard go to. It's inspiring how much the church works to put together things for the community. It's an affordable chance to enjoy fancy things with friends and families. It's so important for any community to hold these types of events that are inclusive to everybody.